Graduated Course #1 (A little late - but still a graduation!)

Tonite was my make-up & final class of Cake Decorating Course #1. It was all about the roses as you can see. Here is my finished cake. I was really apprehensive about doing the roses after seeing how well Ashley had done, but I'm happy with them, they were fun to make and the class teacher commented that mine 'rivaled' Ashley's. WOOHOO!
Ashley and I have decided to go ahead with signing up for Course #3 which is 'Fondant and Tiered Cakes' (or wedding cakes). We talked about postponing it because of the upcoming holidays, but we're learning so much and having so much fun, we figured why put off the inevitable? We're definitely going for it. Point here is....stay tuned for those cakes (I think the teacher said there would be 2 to make in that class).
I took yesterday's cake (the basket weave cake) to the neighbor's house today and gave it to them. 'Mom' wondered if I'd thought about doing cakes professionally and my answer to that is, "yes!" There are lots of children in the neighborhood w/lots of birthdays. I realize I still need loads of practice, but I'm having so much fun that practice is definitely not a problem. Eating all these cakes is....but so far, the recipients that the cakes have been given to, seem pretty darn appreciative.

Graduated Course #2!

Tonite was the culmination of all the work we've done to date in our cake decorating class - Course #2. In the previous 3 classes, we practiced and made all the pieces for tonite's cake. Here is what it is taking to get me to that grand finale.
Are you ready??? Here is my completed cake! This has definitely been my favorite so far...although I do have the make-up class, the final class, for Course #1 tomorrow nite (remember? I missed the final class while on vacation?). This one was tough and time consuming, but Oh! so much fun!

Cake Decorating - Course #2/Lesson #3

Check out these flowers we made tonite - roses, daisies, primroses, dafodills and pansies!

Ashley missed because of having her wisdom teeth pulled on Saturday so she'll have a makeup class like me now - but it was fun anyway and I learned alot again. The last class of this particular course is next week. We have to come to class with our prepared cake and all the flowers and the birds that we've made to date and will be turning all of these combined elements into a (hopefully) beautiful cake. Be sure to stay tuned for the finale!

Cake Decorating - Course #2, Class #2

Tonite was interesting and productive. No cake of course, but we started making the decorations for our final cake using Royal Icing (confectioners sugar, meringue powder & water). We made the birds for our cake w/the 'Color Flow' icing (later I had to re-do mine because I messed them up and I also added a birdhouse). We also made the Apple Blossoms, Violets and Violet Leaves for our final cakes. It's a small, but fun group with a great teacher, Belinda. I found out tonite that Ashley and I are 1 of 2 mother/daughter 'teams'. I can't wait to see everyone's final cake. Stay tuned for the 3rd class of Course #2.

Cake Decorating Continues - Course 2/Lesson 1

Yes, more cake decorating classes....I haven't given them up yet! Although I might if Ashley keeps outdoing me ;-) Man has that kid got some cake decorating talent!! Tonite was the 1st class in Course #2 (I still have to complete Course #1 since I missed the last class due to that darned 'ole vacation) of the Wilton Cake Decorating Classes. This course involves making only 1 cake but lots of different flowers, borders and something called 'flow icing'. We'll be using Royal Icing instead of Buttercream Icing (thank goodness because I'm eaten waayyy to much Buttercream Icing!) so, I think, what this means is that we'll be making icing that hardens and is transportable. Tonite we had to practice several different shell and flower techniques...none of which I mastered...but of course Ashley did each and every one! I've attached a pic of the Course 2 workbook showing the cake we are 'supposed' to be able to decorate by the end of this course as well as the 'mum' that I made in class which Ashley is kindly displaying for your amusement. Her's is much better as you will see when you check out her blog. BTW - I am very thankful to Ashley and her KitchenAid mixer for helping me out tonite by bringing enough icing for both of us.

Cake Decorating Lesson #3

Tonite was Lesson #3! I started my 'homework' yesterday and had my cake iced and ready to go by bedtime last nite.

We had a blast in class and learned a lot (all of these pics prove it). We practiced several different tip applications - a big star, a swirled flower and shells, worked on another step to making roses and then moved on to completing our cake. Ashley, Beth and I all made Funfetti (flavored) cakes - Pillsbury of course. Beth & Abbi chose to make cupcakes rather than the 8" cake and their finished product was terrific.

What do you think about our finished 'homework assignments' (Ashley's 'homework' can be found by clicking on her blog to the right)?

Next week is the last class of Course #1 (Lesson #4) and it's all about roses which means we get to actually complete a rose and then learn how to get them from the 'flower nail' to the cake.

I'll miss this class but will make it up in September. Ashley will be in attendance though and will display her finished cake on her blog. I'm looking forward to seeing it and taking the last class the last week of September.

Course #2 begins on Labor Day and OF COURSE, Ashley and I will be back to do that one....and guess what? You all will get to see the results of those classes/lessons as well! WooHoo!

Homework Accomplished

I finished baking and got my cake (homework) iced yesterday - YEEHAA! It's pepto-bismol pink on the outside and strawberry cake w/strawberry glaze as the filling on the inside. I used the baking strips to make sure it'd cook evenly and be level on top, the cake leveler to cut it perfectly in half (2 layers) and then the groovy icing tip #789 (the best thing for icing cakes since sliced bread!) to put that lovely pink icing on. All these items are part of the 100+ pc decorating tool kit that we purchased.

In addition, we had to prepare 8 different batches of icing of varying colors and consistencies (some to decorate with and some to practice with), bring 1 1/2" squares of wax paper (for practicing roses), damp clothes for clean-up, toothpicks, etc. Lots of stuff considering I thought this was pretty much a 'no-brain' class.

This adventure started out as a $25 class w/a $20 'materials' kit and has turned into a much larger 'investment', but a fun one nevertheless.

Our instructor is Belinda and we're taking the class with friends, Beth and her daughter, Abbi, and having a great time! My finished cake is going to be taken to work tomorrow (thus the CMP on the top) for consumption since we surely don't want to be leaving anything as yummy as a strawberry cake within reach of the likes of me! That small glitch on the right side comes from a 'blow out' in my decorating bag when I was putting the CMP on it after finishing up the class and returning home.

A first for me....

....in a lot of ways. And I'll start my list of 'firsts' with why I've decided to create this blog.

Having become more and more the computer geek, I've decided that blogs are a good thing - thanks to a daughter's (Ashley's Treats) and a niece's (Blakery) blogs that I've gotten involved in reading on a relatively regular basis. It's a fun and interesting way to share the events in one's life - good and/or bad - with friends and family. However, it does open one up to scrutiny so I must be careful about what I share. My dad thinks we're silly but secretly I think he's pleased that we've grown up to be relatively decent and interesting human beings.

Another first, and the initial reason for beginning this blog, is I'm taking cake decorating classes (w/Ashley of course). She's not only my daughter, but my best friend and most always my partner in crime ;-)

We started 'Course 1' last Monday and it was mostly instructive. We learned how to make icing and how to properly ice a cake. Today I make my first cake. I don't know what I was thinking when I said, "Sure I'd love to take cake decorating classes with you!" With an already busy schedule (2 jobs, a dog and a boyfriend), I wasn't even thinking about 'homework'!!!

Well....homework is to make a 2 layer 8-in. cake, ice it w/buttercream icing so that it is ready to decorate for this coming up Monday's class (Lesson #2). Additionally, we have to bring containers of thin, medium and thick consistency icing to practice with and 1/2 cup each of 5 different color frostings to decorate our cake with. Guess I'd better get started. Pictures to follow.